United States President, Donald Trump, unveiled a bold plan on Friday evening to overhaul the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, targeting its current leadership with sweeping changes.
Central to this plan is the removal of David Rubenstein, billionaire philanthropist and chairman of the board of trustees.
Trump’s announcement signaled his intention to reshape the nation’s premier cultural institution by appointing himself as chairman.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared his vision for the Kennedy Center’s future. “At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN. I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” Trump wrote. “We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!”
The move underscores Trump’s growing efforts to expand the scope of executive authority since his return to office last month.
His decision to purge the board is seen by many as a striking example of his combative approach toward political rivals.
Rubenstein, a long-time supporter of former President Joe Biden, has been at the helm of the Kennedy Center’s board.
Trump’s statement also waded into the ongoing cultural debates, taking direct aim at the center’s recent programming.
“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
The president’s power to appoint members of the Kennedy Center board is well established, but the wholesale removal of board members is unprecedented.
While the White House has not issued formal communications on the matter, some board members have reportedly received termination notices.
The Kennedy Center acknowledged the situation in a brief statement.
“The Kennedy Center is aware of the post made recently by POTUS on social media. We have received no official communications from the White House regarding changes to our board of trustees. We are aware that some members of our board have received termination notices from the administration,” the statement said.
Although the center conceded that the administration has the authority to replace board members, it pointed out that this would mark the first time such a comprehensive action had been taken in its history.
CNN reached out to several members appointed by Democratic presidents for comments, as well as to a spokesperson for board treasurer Shonda Rhimes.
One member, appointed by a Democratic administration, stated Friday evening that they had yet to receive any official notification from the Kennedy Center about their status.
Current board members appointed during Trump’s earlier tenure include country music singer Lee Greenwood, diplomat Paolo Zampolli, and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Meanwhile, the search for a new Kennedy Center president, following the recent announcement that Deborah Rutter will step down at the end of the year, is still underway.
The board had begun a nationwide search, but with these changes, the decision on her successor will likely rest with Trump’s new leadership team.
